If Lancaster is a course for the tough all-rounder, Trenton is the queen of US sprinter's races. Only once in the past decade, and the history of the course, has it come down to anything but a mad bunch gallop, when Matt Koschara, riding for Navigators in 1995, made a brave move stick for the victory.

Like Lancaster, the course is 91 miles in 13 laps of a 7mile circuit, but the similarities end there. If Lancaster offers nary a moment of breathing space due to constant course variations, Trenton's main feature is long, straight stretches that crank speeds up to over 30mph, making it, traditionally, one of the fastest races on the US racing circuit. The course offers high drama for spectators, as well, as the riders pass back and forth passing through the start/finish in both directions, and nearly all the turns on the come near the finish, as the riders face about a dozen right angles, with the final 90 degree right coming only about 200 meters from the line.

America's king of sprinters, Gord Fraser, won here last year riding for Mercury, but word is that he and his Health Net team will be unable to ride the Wachovia series this year owing to a legal battle Fraser is involved in with race organizers, Threshold Sports. A pity, as Fraser and his designated lead-out man Mike Sayers have been delivering knock-out blows all season long, followed up by saucy podium appearances, and his team's exclusion certainly diminishes the field for Trenton.

Even without Fraser, there are two past Trenton victors taking the start this year: Julian Dean will ride for CSC, Fred Rodriguez for Vini Caldirola. For my money, the best bet in Trenton, is the Navigators. Oleg Grischkine was second to Fraser last year, and may be looking to go one better this time around. Should Grischkine fail, the Navigators are stocked with contenders - Henk Vogels, Vassili Davidenko, Siro Camponogara and of course, Marty Nothstien are all fast finishers.

Rodriguez is always a danger, but may be looking to Philly for his stab at glory. Saturn's Charles Dionne is in good form with a recent victory in the CapTech Classic under his belt, and Viktor Rapinski is a sppedster. 7-UP/Maxxis has some good men for this race with USPRO Criterium Champion Kevin Monahan, Brice Jones, Dan Schmatz and their two fast Kiwis, Greg Henderson and Hayden Godfrey.